A look at key 2013 slanguage

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By Patrick Stout

The McDonough County Voice

By Patrick Stout

Posted Dec. 27, 2013 at 5:30 AM

By Patrick Stout
Posted Dec. 27, 2013 at 5:30 AM

Most of us can't help but be exposed to key slang or expressions that typify the younger generation most loved by advertisers. I appreciate those who've clued me in along the way as to meanings, though there was one phrase I had to track down myself.

"Yolo" (you only live once) was easy to figure out. They even made a "Simpsons" episode about it this fall.

An essay writer for the Western Courier tipped me off about "cray cray" (crazy, crazy). Who says a college education is worth less these days?

The AT&T commercials where the man asks questions of preschoolers exposed me to today's popular use of "infinity." How do the kids express the concept of forever? "Times infinity," they shout.

You can get a lot of exposure to today's youth slanguage by viewing the Sprint television commercials featuring actors James Earl Jones and Malcolm McDowell. Dressed in tuxedos and standing onstage, the two read transcripts from smartphone conversations.

The advertiser's slogan is "At Sprint, Everything's Important." By showcasing these mundane exchanges with actors who make them sound like they were written by William Shakespeare or published by King James, Sprint attempts to show how much they care about their customers' communication needs.

"Lizzy & Kim's Call" is getting the most frequent television rotation right now. Jones and McDowell read the dialogue of two teenage girls.

One of the girls is infatuated with a boy named Ryan, whom she describes as "Hottie McHotterson." She says Ryan is hot "times infinity times infinity."

Okay, I tracked this down. "Totes magotes" was first used in a conversation in the 2009 romantic comedy, "I Love You, Man."

It's the next evolution of the 1980s affirmation, "Totally!" Kids say "totes" for totally and then "magotes" to make it rhyme.

There is one other definition out there that I think is bogus. It says the affirmation first came from a farmer who was asked if he owned a set of goats. "Totally, my goats," was the alleged response, which evolved into the enthusiastic signoff, "totes magoats."

Beware of extra explanations from people unknown to you. Things can get a little cray cray.

Patrick Stout is a columnist and reporter for the McDonough County Voice. He can be reached at pstout@McDonoughVoice.com.